Singer The Weeknd received the key to the city of Toronto.

The 35-year-old music star was awarded this honor by Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto, during a ceremony at the Rogers Centre on July 26.

"I am deeply honored to receive the key to the city. I feel right at home here. Toronto is where I found my voice, and I am committed to helping the next generation find theirs. That's why I'm proud to support the Boys and Girls Club of West Scarborough and my former school Birchmount Park, providing young people with the means to reach their full potential," said The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye.

Mayor Chow also praised the star, explaining that he "has transformed contemporary music."

"Born in Toronto, Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye represents the best of our city. From Scarborough to the world stage, he has transformed contemporary music, using his platform to support health and humanitarian causes at home and around the world. I am proud to award one of our greatest artists with the key to the city in recognition of his contributions to our music, community, and culture," she said.

The Weeknd has enjoyed success as a musician and actor, and previously explained how growing up in Toronto inspired his passion for cinema.

The award-winning star recalled how, as a teenager, he would visit a video store and browse the collection of films, even though he couldn't afford to rent them at the time.

"There was a store in downtown Toronto called Queen Video. It was one of those video stores that only offered independent and art films. I would go there without buying or renting anything. I would just browse through everything and fall in love with films I had never seen. Because I didn't have any money. I was homeless at the time, around 17 or 18 years old. I would just go in there and pretend I was going to rent something. In reality, I was just trying to learn more about the directors and their achievements," he told Interview magazine in 2023. | BGNES